United States of Europe

There have been a couple of setbacks this week in the further intergration of the European nations into a more unified construct. Most in the states could care less what happens in Europe. And some would in fact love to see the Europeans fall flat on their faces after their anti-American posture for the past few years. Well more or less the French and the Germans at least.

Some see the successful establishment of a European Union as a counterweight to the hyperpower known as the United States. After all the proposed union would have a bigger population than America. But let's face it, American by its nature has for the most part has become a reluctant power. Even though it is currently the most dominant military power on this globe without a close second. And our economy is still the engine that drives most of the world.

Ask most Americans about simple geography questions outside of the U.S. and you're more likely to get an opinion on the current mating ritual of Hollywood. On the flip side our foreign counterparts are more apt to know our domestic affairs. For example name 3 provinces of Canada. . . . . Not so easy eh? But Most Canadians could name at least 5 states if not even more. Quite simply Americans don't concern themselves much with geopolitics. The U.S. may not be an isolationist country anymore, but the collective mentality is not far from it.

Our position in the world theatre was due more to outside influence than internal desire. America was more into isolation than projecting power. It took two world wars to finally draw America out of its shell and have it play a continual part in world affairs. History had taught the American people to no get involved in the many conflicts of Europe. Conflicts that have shaped the face of world history to every corner of earth. From the Middle East, Africa, and Asia.

Now we are at a point were Europe has been in decline since WWII. A world which is much more mobile, and moving ever faster in the buildup of technology and information. A world which is more interconnected to one another than ever before. And in this world there cannot be one super-power.

Europe for all it's anti-American posturing is still a landscape dominated by representative governments. And the similarities far outweigh the differences of these great societies. Our entwined history has assured of that. As the developing worlds of Africa, the Middle East, South America, and the two emerging giants of India & China begin to exert their pull. America would be wise to have a strong player on this world stage, whose ideals at least run parallel with its. So as this new century moves forward, let us hope the setbacks in Europe are temporary.